Charcoal-type cooker assembly with pivotally mounted fire box

ABSTRACT

Charcoal fuel-type cooker assemblies are disclosed which have a support base, and a fire box which contains the fuel is supported on the base to swing between an upright position and a horizontal position. The fire box defines a substantially airtight enclosure for the fuel, except for openings at opposite ends, and a compartment at one end of the fire box receives a starting material so that in the upright position a draft is created upwardly through the fire box to increase burning for fuel starting purposes. The fire box has a movable cover which is held closed when upright to seal off a wall of the fire box and the cover affords access into the fire box when horizontally disposed.

United States Patent 1 Moline et a].

[451 Feb. 20, 1973 CHARCOAL-TYPE COOKER ASSEMBLY WITH PIVOTALLY MOUNTED FIRE BOX [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 18,859, March 12,

1970, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. ..l26/25 B, 110/1 F [51] Int. Cl ..A47j 37/00, F24b 3/00 [58] Field of Search ...126/25 R, 25 A, 25 B; 110/1 F [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1960 Phelps..... 6/1955 Tescula ..l26/25 B ..126/25 R 2,403,134 7/1946 Stephenson ..l26/25 B X 3,073,263 1/1963 Wynkoop ..1 10/1 F 3,182,585 5/1965 Rensch et al. 126/25 A X 3,450,123 6/1969 Tidd ..126/25 R Primary Examiner-Charles J. Myhre Attorney-Reilly and Lewis [57] ABSTRACT Charcoal fuel-type cooker assemblies are disclosed which have a support base, and a tire box which contains the fuel is supported on the base to swing between an upright position and a horizontal position. The fire box defines a substantially airtight enclosure for the fuel, except for openings at opposite ends, and a compartment at one end of the fire box receives a starting material so that in the upright position a draft is created upwardly through the fire box to increase burning for fuel starting purposes. The fire box has a movable cover which is held closed when upright to seal off a wall of the fire box and the cover affords access into the fire box when horizontally disposed.

13 Ciaims, 16 Drawing Figures Pmnmrwzoms SHEET 10F 4 INVENTORS JOHN H. MOLI NE ROBERT J.L.OCHER FIG. 3

PAH-INTED EBZOIBH SHEET 2 OF 4 FIG. 4

FIG.5

INVENTOR3 JOHN H. MOLINE ROBERT J. LOGH ER PATENTEUFEBm-ma 3,717,137

' sfimaom INVENTORS JOHN H. MOLIN E ROB RT J. LO ER BY M TToRNEYs PAIENTED FEB 2 01575 SHEET 4 0F 4 FIG. I6

FIG. I3

FIG. I4

CHARCOAL-TYPE COOKER ASSEMBLY WITH PIVOTALLY MOUNTED FIRE BOX This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 18,859, filed Mar. 12, 1970, entitled CHARCOAL COOKER, and now abandoned. This invention relates to novel and improved cookers suitable for using charcoal as a fuel.

Charcoal fuel-type cookers are a commonly used item for home and camping cook-outs. The usual technique for presently available charcoaltype cookers is to pyramid the charcoal for starting and then spread it out for cooking after the charcoal is burning well. Charcoal cookers usually have a flat relatively shallow body which is fixedly mounted in the horizontal position and the bottom and side walls are usually closed so that no significant draft effect is available to assist in the burning of the charcoal during the start-up period. This results in a relatively slow start-up time for the charcoal, which is a disadvantage from that of other types of cookers. Some attempts have been made to pivot the fire box of cookers between horizontal and vertical positions but none of the fire boxes define a substantially airtight enclosure for the fuel to establish a draft effect in the fire box for fuel starting purposes.

Accordingly it is an important object of the present invention to provide a charcoal fuel-type cooker with a fire box adapted to be disposed in one position for starting the charcoal and another position for cooking with the fire box arranged to provide a draft effect upwardly therethrough for a more rapid starting of the charcoal.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved charcoal fuel-type cooker having a fire box with a compartment forming an extension on one end thereof for igniting the charcoal in the fire box.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved charcoal fuel-type cooker including improved base structure for supporting the fire box in either an upright or horizontal position and an improved cover which can be sealed closed in the upright position to. aid in creating a draft through the fire box.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a charcoal fuel-type cooker whose fire box can be placed in a vertical position for the starting of the fire in a minimum of time and with a minimum of effort, and specifically wherein openings are provided solely at the top and bottom of the fire box to create the most effective draft through the fire box.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided, in the preferred embodiments shown, a hollow rectangular fire box with walls arranged to define a substantially airtight enclosure for the fuel except for openings at the opposite ends and a compartment at one end for supporting the starting material so that when disposed in an upright position with the starting material at the bottom a draft is created upwardly through the fire box to increase the burning effect. A movable cover affords access into the fire box and is held in a closed position when the box is supported upright. The fire box is supported in an offset location adjacent one end on a support base so as to pivot between a horizontal position and an upright position.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention are obtained by the novel features of construction described in the following portion of this specification and its appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of a cooker assembly embodying features of this invention with the fire box disposed in an upright or vertical position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 1 with the fire box disposed in a horizontal position and its cover partly removed;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows. The cover is not shown in this view;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the cooker assembly of FIGS. 1-3 with the grill in place;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the cooker assembly of FIGS. l-4 showing its grill in two different positions;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the fire box shown in FIGS. 1-S without the base;

FIG. 7' is a perspective view of another form of cooker assembly embodying features of the present invention with the fire box in an upright position;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cooker assembly shown in FIG. 7 with the fire box in the horizontal position;

FIG. 9 is an end elevation view of the assembly shown in FIG. 7 with the fire box in the upright position and portions broken away to show interior parts;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along lines 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the lid removed from the fire box of FIGS. 7-10 and inverted to show the details of construction thereof;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along lines l2l2 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of a support brace shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view through the support brace of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a modified form of support base for the fire box shown in FIGS. 7-12; and

FIG. 16 is an end elevation view of the assembly shown in FIG. 15.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, one form of charcoaltype cooker assembly generally designated 10 comprises a hollow rectangular body or fire box 11 that is fabricated from sheet iron or the like. The fire box 1 l is provided with an inner divider wall 12 having a plurality of spaced, circular openings 13 therein. The divider wall 12 of the fire box is in parallel spaced relation to end walls 14 and 36, with end wall 36 also having a plurality of spaced circular openings 35. The fire box 11 has a closed bottom wall and closed front and rear walls and a removable cover 18 which together with the apertured walls 12 and 36 form a substantially airtight enclosure means for the fuel which will create a draft upwardly therethrough when the fuel is ignited and the fire box is disposed in an upright position as described more fully hereinafter. The fire box also has a compartment 15 at one end forming a rectangular chamber for the paper or the like with which a fire is started in the fire box. The compartment 15 has a top wall portion 16 that is provided with a plurality of equally spaced and parallel round openings 17 therein. One side of the compartment 15 has a square opening directly under the top wall portion 16 in order that paper or a like firestarting material may be placed in the compartment for starting a fire in the fire box, as will be described.

The removable cover or lid 18 for closing the top opening of the box 11 has a pair of downwardly turned front and rear flanges or sides 19. Two curved recesses 20, in each side 19 of the cover 18, are provided for the reception of the outwardly projecting rivets 21 that are located on each side of the box 11 for the securing of the cover 18 in place on top of the body. A centrally located opening 22 in one end of the cover 18 provides a means of hooking one end of the cover handling rod 23 in the cover, as best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings. A brace 24 is swingably secured by one end to one side of the box 11 and a like brace is similarly secured to the other side of the box. The purpose of these two braces 24 is to hold the box 11 in an upright position when one is starting a fire.

The outer end of each brace 24 is provided with a curved recess 20 for hooking onto a rivet, not shown. The hooking on of each brace on a rivet serves to lock the brace in the desired position illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The rivets for the braces are located on the inside of a pair of spaced horizontally disposed front and rear angle irons 26 of a supporting base or frame 27. The frame 27 not only includes the angle irons 26 but also the end angle irons 28 and 29 and vertically disposed corner posts 30. Each post 30 is made of square tubing having a plurality of vertically spaced openings therein for the reception of a locking pin that holds the legs 31 of the grill 32 in the desired position when the grill 32 is being used. Looking at FIG. 3 of the drawings, the end angle iron 29 of the supporting frame 27 is not only located lower to the ground than angle iron 28 but is also placed in a reverse position in order that the angle iron 29 can support the free end of the body 11. The fire box 11 is swingably or pivotally mounted within the confines of the supporting frame 27 by means of the laterally disposed supporting rod 33 that extends all the way through the fire box 11 adjacent one end thereof and near the end wall 12 and projects on into angle irons 26 on opposite sides of the supporting frame 27.

The only difference between the above described cooker assembly and its modified form 34 illustrated in FIG. 6 is that the modified form does not have a sup porting frame 27 A fire is started in the cooker assemblies above described as follows:

Paper or a like starting material is placed in the rectangular compartment and charcoal fuel in the fire box 11 and the box is then swung to a vertical position as shown in FIG. 1. The two braces 24 have their free ends hooked over the rivets in the angle irons 26. The paper is now lit with a match and heat is generated in the fire box producing a draft upwardly through the fire box to assist in the burning of the charcoal. After the charcoal is burning well, the box is returned to its normal horizontal position. In areas where smoke is a problem and the burning of paper is prohibited, a layer of charcoal is placed in the box and then lighter fluid is poured over the same. A second layer of charcoal is then placed in the box and lighter fluid is poured over that. The box is then placed in an upright position and a match is lit and applied to the lighter fluid through one of the openings 13 or 17. After the charcoal is burning well, the box is returned to its horizontal position. In either case, air to the burning charcoal flows up through the plurality of spaced round openings 13 in divider l2 and openings 35 in the end 36 of the box 11 to provide a draft or chimney effect in the enclosure means formed by the box 11. This draft is a result of having the side walls substantially closed and openings in the ends when disposed in an upright position. If it is desired to use this cooker as a grill after the fire has been started, the cover 18 is removed and the grill 32 has its legs 31 placed in the hollow post 30 and held in the desired position by the above-mentioned pins.

Yet another form of cooker assembly illustrated in FIGS. 7-12 includes a modified stand-up or floor type support frame or base generally designated 41 made of metal rod or tubing bent to the required shape and a hollow, rectangular-shaped fire box 42 supported on the base to pivot between a generally horizontal position represented in FIG. 8 and an upright position represented in FIG. 7. Base 41 is a stand-up or floor type in that the fire box is supported high above the ground to permit the user to assume a standing position. The support base 41 comprises pairs of oppositely inclined leg members 43-44 and 51-52 extending downwardly from opposite ends of the fire box. The leg members 43 and 44 have upper vertical portions 45 at the corners of one end of the fire box, inturned upper end portions 46, and downwardly extending, inclined leg portions 47. The leg members 43-44 intersect the oppositely inclined, U-shaped member 48 which includes a closed end portion 49 joining the downwardly extending, inclined leg portions 51 and 52. The

inclined leg portions on each side of the fire box cross one another and are joined at the cross-over point by a suitable fastener 50.

A cross brace 53 extends transversely between the upright portions 45 of the legs 43 and 44 and is connected thereto by suitable fasteners 54 such as bolts or the like. This cross brace is provided with rounded end portions 53a conforming to the shape of the tubular base and a series of laterally spaced upstanding hooks 55 formed by punching out rounded sections in the brace for supporting associated cookware such as shish kebab rods or the like. A tray 56 is secured between the leg portions on each side of the fire box by fasteners 57 extending through the associated leg portions of the base and into downtumed flanged edges 56a of the tray.

The fire box 42 is made up of a flat bottom wall 61, upstanding front and rear side walls 62 and 63 and upstanding, spaced end walls 64 and 65, the walls joined for example by welding at their corners. The end walls 64 and 65 are provided with a plurality of circular openings 67 and 68, respectively, of limited size which serve as inlets and outlets for air to establish a draft through the fire box, and the openings 67 in partitioning wall 64 are sized to retain the charcoal when disposed in the upright position. Side walls 62 and 63 terminate at their upper ends in inwardly bent flanges 71, and the upper end of outer end wall 65 has an inwardly bent flange 73, these flanges together with end wall 64 forming a border for the top opening in the fire box.

The flat lid or cover 75 is pivotally secured to the upper rear side edge of the fire box to open or close the top of the fire box as required. The pivot member 70 is shown as a single elongated rod terminating at each end in enlarged end cap portions 70a. Pivot member 70 extends through aligned apertures in the end walls of the fire box and aligned apertures 79a in downturned end flanges 79 of the lid 75 and the lid also has front and rear side flanges 81. The forward ends of end flanges 79 terminate short of the side flanges 81 to form a forward space 7% to permit the lid to overlap and snugly engage the tops of the walls 64 and 65 of the fire box. This box-shaped lid construction with flanges on all side edges has been found to greatly increase the strength of the lid so that it will retain its shape after repeated heating. As best seen in FIGS. 9-12, in the closed position of the lid, the top surface of the lid at the ends is generally flush with an upper wall surface 85 and end flange 73, and the flanged ends of the lid extend into the box along the wall 64 and end flange 73. The rear side flange of the fire box extends over the rear flanged portion of the lid, and the front flange 81 of the lid extends over the front flange of the fire box. This lid or cover arrangement is significant in providing a closed, substantially airtight enclosure for the fuel except for the openings at the ends which effect the desired draft upwardly through the box when disposed in an upright position. The lid 75 is also provided with a relatively shallow recessed or indented area 82 in its top surface, as best seen from FIGS. 10 and 12, to retain the grease and facilitate cooking thereon. Lid 75 is also provided with a U-shaped handle 77 secured to the front flange which is provided with an aperture 78 in one leg of the handle to facilitate the opening of the lid when hot by means of inserting a rod or the like thereinto and raising the lid. The grill is made of a latticework of longitudinally extending spaced parallel rods 74 and transversely extending rods 76. The grill is removably supported below the lid by pivot member 70 and inturned pins or rivets 80 mounted on the end walls and a downturned portion 76a of the transverse rods extending over the pivot member 70 permits pivoting of the grill about the pivot member 70.

The fire box 42 also has a starting compartment 84 which forms an extension of one end of the fire box compartment 84 as shown and includes top and bottom wall portions 85 and 86 forming continuations of the top and bottom wall portions of the fire box and an end wall 87 parallel to end walls 64 and 65. A plurality of openings 86 may be provided in wall 85, and the rear wall 63 of the fire box is extended at 63' to form the closed rear wall of the compartment and the front of the compartment is left open for the receipt of paper and the like to be ignited to start the charcoal through the end openings 67 in wall 64 in the same manner as compartment above described.

The fire box 42 is pivotally supported on the base by means of a pivot rod 83 which extends through aligned apertures in walls 62 and 63 of the box and the extremities of the inturned end portions 46 of the support base. The pivot member 83 is offset away from the center of the box toward the end of the fire box adjacent the starting compartment 84 so that the major portion of the box will be above the pivot in the upright position. This facilitates the use of a relatively short-legged base and permits the use of the end portions 49 of the base under the free end of the box to be used as a support for the bottom wall of the fire box and hold it in a stable horizontal position.

A detachable brace or rod 88 is used to hold the fire box 42 in its upright position or to hold the lid open when the fire box is in the horizontal position. Rod 88 has an inturned lower end portion 88a which releasably inserts into an aperture in upright portion 45 of the base and an inturned end portion 88b which releasably inserts into aligned apertures in the front flange of the lid and the front wall of the box to hold the fire box in the upright position as shown in FIG. 7. The rod 88 when used to hold the lid open has the end portion 88a inserted into an aperture 65a in the lower corner of the end wall 65 and end portion 88b inserted into an aperture 790 in side flange 79 of the lid. The main body of rod 88 is generally straight but has an outwardly bowed portion 88c adjacent the lower inturned end portion to compensate for the lateral extension of the base relative to the side of the box as best seen in FIG. 9.

Referring now to FIGS. 14 and 15 there is shown a table model unit with a modified form of base generally designated 91 for supporting the fire box 42 in the same way as does base 41 above-described. Base 91 is of course a shorter version of that shown in FIGS. 7-11 and includes a pair of oppositely disposed vertical leg members 92 and 93 extending downwardly from opposite ends of the box and outwardly of and encompassing the sides of the box which are joined at one end by a transversely extending closed end portion 94. Each leg member has an upright, upper inturned end portion 98 which carries the pivot member 84 for supporting the fire box and an inturned lower base portion 99 providing the ground engaging surface of the base which joins at its end with the end portion 94. The end portion 94 inclines upwardly from the lower portion and terminates at an apex which receives an upright bolt and nut assembly 95. The head on the bolt forms a seat for the free end of the box so that it and the pivotal attachment provided by rod 83 will support the box in the horizontal position shown in FIG. 15.

The modified forms of cooker assemblies shown in FIGS. 7-15 afford advantages over the forms shown in FIGS. 1-6 in that the lid structure is greatly strengthened by having all of the ends flanged or downturned to prevent warping when hot. The particular arrangement between the lid and flanged edges of the fire box provide an improved sealing to afford a better chimney effect. The base structure and specific manner of supporting the fire box in an upright position with the same support rod usable also for holding the lid open is another specific improvement.

The sequence of operation for the cooker assemblies of FIGS. 7-15 above described is the same as for that in FIGS. l-6. The charcoal is placed in the fire box with the lid open, the lid 80 is closed and the box pivoted to the upright position, followed by placing rod 88 in place as shown in FIG. 7 to hold the box in place and lock the lid against opening. The starter material erial then placed in container 84 and ignited, which results in igniting the charcoal, and a draft is produced in the fire box as the charcoal burns. After the charcoal is burning well, the ends of rod 88 are removed from the base aperture and the fire box is pivoted to the horizontal position. The lid is opened by inserting rod 88 into the aperture 78 and then held open by placing the ends of rod 88 in the opening in the end flange of the lid and the end wall of the box as best seen in FIG. 8.

Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that changes in details of structure may be made without departing the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly comprising a base,

a fire box pivotally connected to said base to swing between a generally horizontal position and a generally upright position, said fire box having a bottom wall, side and end walls upstanding from the bottom wall and a movable lid defining substantially airtight enclosure means for the fuel except for openings at opposite ends thereof whereby to establish a draft through the enclosure means when said fire box is disposed in an upright position for starting and burning the fuel contained therein, and

means to releasably hold said fire box in the upright position, said fire box having a compartment at one end thereof including a partition wall with openings connected between the end walls, said compartment adapted to receive a starting material for igniting a fuel in the fire box through the openings in said partition wall, said fire box being pivotally connected to the base between the end walls and offset from the center of the box whereby a smaller portion of the box on one side of the pivot counterbalances a larger portion of the box on the other side of the pivot in moving between the horizontal and upright positions, a support surface of the base being disposed under the free end of the larger portion of the fire box for supporting the fire box in a generally horizontal position.

2. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly according to claim 1 including means to releasably hold said lid closed when said fire box is disposed in the upright position and release the lid to provide access into the fire box when in the horizontal position.

3. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lid includes a lift handle on a front flange, said handle having a hole to receive a lift rod for the opening of the lid while hot.

4. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lid and an adjacent fire box wall has means to lock the lid closed in the upright position.

5. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lid has a recessed area to facilitate retaining grease while cooking thereon.

6. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly as set forth in claim 1 said fire box being pivotally connected to the base in an offset location adjacent one end and between the opposite ends of the fire box and so that a major portion of the fire box is above the pivot axis and the compartment is below the pivot when disposed in the upright position.

7. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly comprising a hollow rectangular body of sheet iron or the like having a first end wall and defining a substantially airtight enclosure means for a charcoal type fuel except for openings in said first end wall and at the opposite end thereof whereby to establish a draft through the enclosure means when said enclosure means is disposed in an upright position with said first end wall at the top, an extension at one end of the body having a second end wall opposite said first end wall, said extension adapted to receive a material for starting a fire in charcoal placed in the said hollow rectangular body, and an intermediate partition wall with openings between said first and second end walls, the openings in said partition wall being sized for preventing the charcoal from falling out of the said body when the said body is placed in an upright position for starting the charcoal to burn.

8. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly comprising a base, a hollow rectangular fire box formed of a heat conductive sheet material pivotally connected to the base adjacent one end thereof within said base to pivot between a generally horizontal position and a generally upright position, said fire box having substantially closed side walls, a movable cover forming a closure for the top of the box and having closure walls at opposite ends of the cover defining a substantially airtight rectangular enclosure for the fuel except for openings in said closure walls sized to retain the charcoal therein and admit air upwardly through the box, said fire box having an open starting compartment forming an extension at one end thereof to establish a draft upwardly through said compartment openings and said box when disposed in the upright position for starting of a fuel contained in said fire box, said fire box being pivotally connected to the base between the end walls and offset from the center of the box whereby a smaller portion of the box on one side of the pivot counterbalances a larger portion of the fire box on the other side of the pivot in moving between the horizontal and upright positions, a support surface of the base being disposed under the larger portion of the fire box for supporting the fire box in a generally horizontal position, and rod means with intumed ends releasably inserted into said base and said fire box to releasably hold said fire box in said upright position.

9. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly comprising sing a base,

a fire box supported on said base and movable between a generally horizontal position and a generally upright position said fire box defining substantially airtight enclosure means for the fuel except for openings at opposite ends thereof whereby to establish a draft through the enclosure means when said enclosure means is disposed in an upright position for starting and burning the fuel contained therein, and 7 means to releasably hold said fire box in the upright position, said enclosure means including a movable lid held closed when said fire box is disposed in the upright position and movable to an open position to provide access into the fire box when in the horizontal position, said fire box including a closed bottom wall and end and side walls, upstanding from the outer edge of the bottom wall, each said upstanding side wall and one of said end walls terminating in an upper intumed flange, said lid being substantially flush with the tops of the upstanding end and extending under the rear flange and over the front flange of the side walls to substantially seal off the top of the fire box.

10. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly as set forth in claim 9 including pivot means along the ends of the box extending through the side flanges at the rear end of the lid to pivotally support the lid at the rear of the fire box.

1 1. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly as set forth in claim 9 including a grill extending across a top opening in the fire box and removably supported under inturned flanges of the upstanding walls.

12. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly comprising a base,

a tire box supported on said base and movable between a generally horizontal position and a generally upright position, said fire box defining substantially airtight enclosure means for the fuel except for openings at opposite ends thereof whereby to establish a draft through the enclosure means when said enclosure means is disposed in an upright position for starting and burning the fuel contained therein, and

means to releasably hold said fire box in the upright in claim 12 further including a cross brace extending between said upright portions having means to support cooking utensils thereon. 

1. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly comprising a base, a fire box pivotally connected to said base to swing between a generally horizontal position and a generally upright position, said fire box having a bottom wall, side and end walls upstanding from the bottom wall and a movable lid defining substantially airtight enclosure means for the fuel except for openings at opposite ends thereof whereby to establish a draft through the enclosure means when said fire box is disposed in an upright position for starting and burning the fuel contained therein, and means to releasably hold said fire box in the upright position, said fire box having a compartment at one end thereof including a partition wall with openings connected between the end walls, said compartment adapted to receive a starting material for igniting a fuel in the fire box through the openings in said partition wall, said fire box being pivotally connected to the base between the end walls and offset from the center of the box whereby a smaller portion of the box on one side of the pivot counterbalances a larger portion of the box on the other side of the pivot in moving between the horizontal and upright positions, a support surface of the base being disposed under the free end of the larger portion of the fire box for supporting the fire box in a generally horizontal position.
 1. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly comprising a base, a fire box pivotally connected to said base to swing between a generally horizontal position and a generally upright position, said fire box having a bottom wall, side and end walls upstanding from the bottom wall and a movable lid defining substantially airtight enclosure means for the fuel except for openings at opposite ends thereof whereby to establish a draft through the enclosure means when said fire box is disposed in an upright position for starting and burning the fuel contained therein, and means to releasably hold said fire box in the upright position, said fire box having a compartment at one end thereof including a partition wall with openings connected between the end walls, said compartment adapted to receive a starting material for igniting a fuel in the fire box through the openings in said partition wall, said fire box being pivotally connected to the base between the end walls and offset from the center of the box whereby a smaller portion of the box on one side of the pivot counterbalances a larger portion of the box on the other side of the pivot in moving between the horizontal and upright positions, a support surface of the base being disposed under the free end of the larger portion of the fire box for supporting the fire box in a generally horizontal position.
 2. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly according to claim 1 including means to releasably hold said lid closed when said fire box is disposed in the upright position and release the lid to provide access into the fire box when in the horizontal position.
 3. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lid iNcludes a lift handle on a front flange, said handle having a hole to receive a lift rod for the opening of the lid while hot.
 4. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lid and an adjacent fire box wall has means to lock the lid closed in the upright position.
 5. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lid has a recessed area to facilitate retaining grease while cooking thereon.
 6. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly as set forth in claim 1 said fire box being pivotally connected to the base in an offset location adjacent one end and between the opposite ends of the fire box and so that a major portion of the fire box is above the pivot axis and the compartment is below the pivot when disposed in the upright position.
 7. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly comprising a hollow rectangular body of sheet iron or the like having a first end wall and defining a substantially airtight enclosure means for a charcoal type fuel except for openings in said first end wall and at the opposite end thereof whereby to establish a draft through the enclosure means when said enclosure means is disposed in an upright position with said first end wall at the top, an extension at one end of the body having a second end wall opposite said first end wall, said extension adapted to receive a material for starting a fire in charcoal placed in the said hollow rectangular body, and an intermediate partition wall with openings between said first and second end walls, the openings in said partition wall being sized for preventing the charcoal from falling out of the said body when the said body is placed in an upright position for starting the charcoal to burn.
 8. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly comprising a base, a hollow rectangular fire box formed of a heat conductive sheet material pivotally connected to the base adjacent one end thereof within said base to pivot between a generally horizontal position and a generally upright position, said fire box having substantially closed side walls, a movable cover forming a closure for the top of the box and having closure walls at opposite ends of the cover defining a substantially airtight rectangular enclosure for the fuel except for openings in said closure walls sized to retain the charcoal therein and admit air upwardly through the box, said fire box having an open starting compartment forming an extension at one end thereof to establish a draft upwardly through said compartment openings and said box when disposed in the upright position for starting of a fuel contained in said fire box, said fire box being pivotally connected to the base between the end walls and offset from the center of the box whereby a smaller portion of the box on one side of the pivot counterbalances a larger portion of the fire box on the other side of the pivot in moving between the horizontal and upright positions, a support surface of the base being disposed under the larger portion of the fire box for supporting the fire box in a generally horizontal position, and rod means with inturned ends releasably inserted into said base and said fire box to releasably hold said fire box in said upright position.
 9. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly comprising sing a base, a fire box supported on said base and movable between a generally horizontal position and a generally upright position said fire box defining substantially airtight enclosure means for the fuel except for openings at opposite ends thereof whereby to establish a draft through the enclosure means when said enclosure means is disposed in an upright position for starting and burning the fuel contained therein, and means to releasably hold said fire box in the upright position, said enclosure means including a movable lid held closed when said fire box is disposed in the upright position and movable to an open position to provide access into the fire box when in the horizontal position, said fire box including a cloSed bottom wall and end and side walls, upstanding from the outer edge of the bottom wall, each said upstanding side wall and one of said end walls terminating in an upper inturned flange, said lid being substantially flush with the tops of the upstanding end and extending under the rear flange and over the front flange of the side walls to substantially seal off the top of the fire box.
 10. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly as set forth in claim 9 including pivot means along the ends of the box extending through the side flanges at the rear end of the lid to pivotally support the lid at the rear of the fire box.
 11. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly as set forth in claim 9 including a grill extending across a top opening in the fire box and removably supported under inturned flanges of the upstanding walls.
 12. A charcoal fuel-type cooker assembly comprising a base, a fire box supported on said base and movable between a generally horizontal position and a generally upright position, said fire box defining substantially airtight enclosure means for the fuel except for openings at opposite ends thereof whereby to establish a draft through the enclosure means when said enclosure means is disposed in an upright position for starting and burning the fuel contained therein, and means to releasably hold said fire box in the upright position, said base is being made of a tubular material including a pair of side standards outwardly of the fire box, each side standard including an upright portion, an upper inturned portion and a lower leg portion, and a pivot rod extending through said inturned end portions to removably and pivotally support said fire box on said base. 